Where to Get the Best Price for Amazing 1885 CC Morgan PCGS MS68 CAC: eBay or Coin Shows?

The venue you choose to sell your coin can drastically affect what actually lands in your pocket. Let’s compare the modern digital marketplace to the traditional dealer bourse floor. Few coins illustrate this decision more powerfully than the 1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar—particularly one graded PCGS MS68 CAC. With forum discussions buzzing over asking prices north of $200,000 and recent auction results hovering around $72,000, the question of where to sell such a treasure becomes far more than academic. It’s a financial strategy that can mean tens of thousands of dollars in your pocket—or gone to fees and discounted buy prices.

The 1885-CC Morgan: A Numismatic Powerhouse

In my experience grading and dealing Morgan dollars for over two decades, I’ve come to appreciate the 1885-CC as one of the most coveted dates in the entire series. The Philadelphia Mint may have struck the bulk of Morgan dollars, but it was the Carson City Mint—denoted by the CC mint mark—that produced the low-mintage survivors collectors dream about.

The 1885-CC saw a mintage of just 226,000 dollars. That makes it one of the rarest regular-issue Morgan dollars in existence. Combine that scarcity with the inherent collectibility of silver dollar collecting, and you have a coin that commands serious attention from institutional buyers and serious hobbyists alike. The numismatic value of this date isn’t speculative—it’s rooted in genuine rarity.

The coin we’re examining here, certified PCGS MS68 CAC, represents the pinnacle of preservation for this date. PCGS assigned a grade of Mint State 68, indicating a coin with virtually flawless surfaces, explosive luster, and four sharp strike zones—at least in the grader’s professional opinion. The CAC (Certified Acceptance Corporation) sticker further validates the coin, as CAC only approves pieces that meet strict standards for quality within their grade.

In the forum discussion, I noticed debate about whether the visual presentation matched the MS68 designation. Some members noted muted luster and toning that didn’t scream “luster-bomb.” But as several pointed out, CAC stickered it twice, and in my view, that third-party validation carries enormous weight regardless of subjective aesthetic preferences. The provenance through respected collections like the Jack Lee collection only adds to its significance.

The eBay Route: Fees, Reach, and Online Reputation

Selling a coin of this caliber on eBay offers unmatched reach. The global marketplace means your listing is visible to hundreds of thousands of potential buyers at any given moment. However, the fees can be substantial. As an online coin dealer, I’ve run the numbers on countless transactions:

• Final Value Fees: eBay charges approximately 13.0% of the total sale amount (including shipping charges) for most coin and currency listings, though this can vary slightly by category. For a coin selling at $72,000, that’s roughly $9,360 in eBay fees alone.
• Payment Processing: eBay’s managed payments add an additional percentage, typically around 2.9% plus a small fixed fee per transaction. On a high-value numismatic purchase, this can add another $2,000–$2,500 to the seller’s cost.
• Total Fee Burden: Combined, a seller on eBay can expect to surrender roughly 15–17% of the gross sale price in fees. On a $200,000 listing, that’s a potential $30,000–$34,000 gone before you even see a profit.

That said, eBay offers significant advantages. Your online reputation—built through feedback scores, detailed seller ratings, and a history of transparent transactions—becomes a form of currency in itself. High-value coin buyers on eBay scrutinize seller histories carefully. They want clean transactions, accurate descriptions, and prompt shipping.

For a dealer like myself who has cultivated a strong eBay presence over the years, this digital reputation translates directly into higher closing prices and repeat customers. There’s also the matter of liquidity. In my experience, properly listed rare coins with clear images, accurate grading, and competitive pricing tend to attract multiple serious bidders. The auction format creates competitive tension that can push final prices above static “Buy It Now” listings.

The 1885-CC Morgan that sold at Great Collections in 2020 for $72,000 plus buyer’s premium demonstrated how online auction platforms can generate robust competition even for six-figure coins. That kind of bidding war is something you simply can’t replicate behind a coin show table.

The Coin Show Floor: Dealer Buy Prices, Etiquette, and In-Person Dynamics

Walking the bourse floor at a major coin show—whether it’s the Las Vegas National, the Florida United Numismatists show, or the ANA convention—offers a completely different selling experience. I’ve spent countless weekends behind a table and in front of one. The dynamics are unmistakably different from clicking “List Your Item” on a screen.

When you bring a coin like an 1885-CC Morgan PCGS MS68 CAC to a coin show and attempt to sell it to a dealer, you need to understand dealer buy prices. Unlike eBay, where you set your own price and compete with market forces, a dealer buying from you directly is looking for a margin. In my experience, here’s how the math typically works for top-tier coins:

• Market Value: Let’s say the fair market value of your coin is $80,000 (consistent with recent guide values).
• Dealer Buy Price: A dealer will typically offer between 50% and 75% of market value for a high-grade, high-value coin. For an 1885-CC MS68 CAC, I’d estimate a buy price in the range of $40,000–$60,000.
• Dealer’s Margin: The dealer then needs to cover overhead, travel costs, and still make a profit when reselling—either at a show or through their online channels.

This is not a criticism of dealers—it’s simply the economics of the business. The dealer takes on risk: authenticity concerns, market fluctuations, time held in inventory. They need compensation for that risk.

At a coin show, etiquette plays a significant role in negotiations. Experienced collectors know that approaching a dealer with a realistic price expectation, presenting the coin properly in a slab, and being open to discussion yields far better results than starting with an inflated asking price. Several forum participants noted that the $200,000 asking price on the Northern Nevada Coin listing was “insane” and “way out of range.” And honestly? In a face-to-face show setting, that kind of gap between asking and numismatic value would kill the negotiation before it started.

One underappreciated advantage of coin shows is the ability to show the coin in person. I’ve found that some of the best deals I’ve ever made happened because a buyer could hold the coin, examine the luster under different lighting, and assess the eye appeal firsthand. For a coin like this 1885-CC, where forum members debated whether the visual presentation matched the MS68 grade, in-person examination can be a powerful selling tool. You can point out the patina, discuss toning patterns, and explain the coin’s character in ways a photograph never captures.

Understanding the Gap: Why Prices Vary Between Venues

The forum discussion revealed some fascinating price data points that illustrate the volatility and venue-dependence of high-end numismatic pricing:

1. Guide Value: Approximately $80,000 for an 1885-CC Morgan MS68.
2. Jack Lee Coin (2009 Auction): Sold at FUN auction for a then-record price, later resold and certified as PCGS MS68+ CAC—indicating it was actually finer than the original MS68 standard.
3. Great Collections Sale (2020): An NGC MS68 CAC example sold for approximately $72,000 plus buyer’s premium.
4. Current Asking Price: The Northern Nevada Coin listing at $200,000—which forum members rightly questioned as being roughly 2.5 times the guide value.

As an online dealer, I can tell you that this kind of price discrepancy is precisely why venue selection matters. If you believe your coin is truly worth $200,000, eBay gives you the platform to find that rare buyer willing to pay that premium—but you’ll surrender significant fees in the process.

If you’re more realistic about the $72,000–$80,000 range, a coin show allows you to sell directly to a dealer with no platform fees, albeit at a discounted buy price. And if you list on eBay at $80,000, you net approximately $64,000–$68,000 after fees—still more than a dealer’s buy offer, but with the risk of the coin not selling at all.

That risk factor is critical. A coin’s mint condition may be pristine, but if the right buyer never sees it, the collectibility and rarity mean nothing on paper. This is the balancing act every serious seller faces.

Authenticity, Grading, and Trust in Both Venues

One thing the forum discussion highlighted repeatedly is the importance of third-party grading and CAC approval. Whether you’re selling on eBay or at a coin show, a PCGS or NGC slab with a CAC sticker eliminates the vast majority of authenticity concerns that plague high-value numismatic transactions.

On eBay, the slabbed coin serves as your primary authentication tool. Buyers cannot examine the coin in person, so the grading credentials, the CAC sticker, and your seller reputation become the three pillars of trust. I always recommend including high-resolution images of both sides, close-ups of key design elements, and clear photos of the CAC sticker and any toning patterns. In my experience, sellers who provide transparent, detailed listings consistently outperform those who rely on vague descriptions and stock photos.

At a coin show, the slabbed coin still matters, but you have the added advantage of personal interaction. I’ve found that experienced collectors and dealers at shows will often examine a coin under their own lights, compare it to reference specimens they’ve handled, and make judgment calls that go beyond what a slab grade conveys.

For a coin like the 1885-CC MS68 CAC, where some forum members noted light scuffs and terminal toning, being able to explain these characteristics honestly can actually build trust and facilitate a sale. A coin’s patina tells a story. When you can share that story face-to-face, buyers connect with it differently than they do through a screen.

Making the Right Choice: Actionable Takeaways for Sellers

So, which venue is right for your 1885-CC Morgan or similar high-value coin? Here’s my practical advice based on years of buying and selling on both platforms:

Choose eBay When:

• You want to maximize your net proceeds after fees (typically 15–17% of gross sale price).
• You believe your coin’s eye appeal and rarity will attract a buyer willing to exceed current guide values.
• You have a strong seller reputation and can invest time in creating a premium-quality listing.
• You’re willing to wait for the right buyer—auction timelines can range from days to weeks.

Choose a Coin Show When:

• You need immediate liquidity and cash in hand within hours.
• You’re comfortable accepting a 25–50% discount from market value for instant conversion.
• You want to avoid the hassle of listing, shipping insurance, and potential returns.
• You’re selling multiple items and can negotiate package deals with dealers.

Consider Both When:

• You list on eBay with a “Make Offer” option, and a dealer at a show can make a comparable offer in person.
• You use a coin show as a market-research opportunity to gauge dealer interest before committing to an eBay listing.

Conclusion: The Timeless Significance of the 1885-CC Morgan

Regardless of which venue you choose, the 1885-CC Morgan Silver Dollar in any grade is a piece of American history worth preserving. Struck at the Carson City Mint during a period of robust silver production in Nevada, these coins represent the intersection of Western frontier economics, federal monetary policy, and the enduring passion of the numismatic community.

The specific coin at the center of our discussion—a PCGS MS68 CAC example—stands as one of the finest known specimens of this already rare date. Whether it truly deserves its MS68 designation is a matter of legitimate debate, as some forum members noted muted luster and toning that didn’t match their expectations for the grade. But CAC’s dual approval, the PCGS certification, and the coin’s provenance through respected collections give it undeniable significance.

As a collector and dealer, I’ve seen venues come and go, platforms evolve, and market dynamics shift. But the fundamental truth remains: the right coin in the right venue at the right time can achieve extraordinary value. The 1885-CC Morgan PCGS MS68 CAC is undeniably that coin. Whether you take it to the bourse floor in Las Vegas or list it in your eBay store, the key is understanding the economics of each channel and making an informed decision that serves your goals as a seller.

And for those of us who can’t quite reach that $200,000 price tag? As one forum member wisely noted, it’s still nice to dream. I’ve found that dreaming about coins like these is what keeps us passionate about this hobby—one that bridges centuries of history, artistry, and human ambition in a single, silver disc.

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